Great Three Days of Easter – Holy Saturday

Victory over the Grave by Bernard PlockhorstWe continue our fasting in exited anticipation until … The Easter Vigil, waiting and watching, starts after nightfall. This is the time, above all others, for us to recommit and dedicate ourselves again in faith. An Easter fire is lit, and lights up every thing around. From it, we light the Easter Candle. The Candle is solemnly carried into church as the sign of the Light of Christ which overcomes the darkness of sin and death. In that light we read the story of what God has done for us from the dawn of creation until today, in the scriptures. We all renew our faith, and our Baptism into the Risen Christ. And so we go forward together to share in the food and drink of Life. As we make our prayers and sing our praises, our hope is that the Holy Spirit will free in our lives the full power of Christ’s Rising from the Dead.

Our Services
10.00 am – The Office of Readings and Morning Prayer of the Church
11.00 am – Blessing of Easter Baskets
8.30 pmThe Solemn Vigil and Mass of the Resurrection of Our Lord

Great Three Days of Easter – Good Friday

Christ Carrying the Cross, El Greco (1580)On Good Friday Jesus Christ gave his life for us. Though innocent, by allowing himself to be a scapegoat he showed the depth of his love. His example of loving service shows us how we are to live too. A day of fasting and abstinence, in eager anticipation of Easter.

But if we just felt sad that our sin put him on the cross, then we would be missing the point. Good Friday is not meant to make us feel bad. On ‘Good’Friday we remember that we are sinners, but we also glory in the victory that Christ won over sin and death, to set us free. This is not a passion play, and we gather knowing that Christ rose from the dead. So even on Good Friday we rejoice in the triumph of good over evil.

Our Services
10.00 am – The Office of Readings and Morning Prayer of the Church
12 noon – ‘Pop-up’ Stations, starting outside Morisons
3.00 pmThe Celebration of Our Lord’s Passion
7.00 pm – The Way of the Cross

Maundy Thursday

Última_Cena_-_Juan_de_JuanesThe word “Maundy” is from the Latin word for “command”: This night we recall Christ’s command to do what he did at the last supper: He washed the feet of his disciples, as a sign of service. If we wash feet in our liturgy it is not as play-acting or as a welcome diversion from the praying: It is a sign that we want, and are beginning, to serve all our brothers and sisters just as Christ himself did.

The second part of our celebration this night is “Eucharist”, thanksgiving. We remember that Jesus gave us bread and wine to be his Body and Blood this day. Strangely enough, the washing of the feet and the breaking of bread are inseparably linked. Only if we agree to serve each other can we share communion. Attending the Mass of the Lord’s Supper is an invitation to be nourished by the food of life. But it also involves a commitment to become part of a community that grows by loving.

The Mass of Our Lord’s Supper: 7.30 pm

Watching with Christ in the Place of Repose, in the Hall: 8.30 pm – 11.45 pm

Compline (Night prayer of the church): 11.45pm

Risen: Easter Film

UNCOVER THE MYSTERYTuesday, April 4th-5Risen is the epic Biblical story of the Resurrection and the weeks that followed, as seen through the eyes of anRise unbelieving Clavius (Joseph Fiennes), a high-ranking Roman Military Tribune. Clavius and his aide Lucius (Tom Felton) are instructed by Pontius Pilate to oversee the execution of Jesus of Nazareth, and to ensure his radical followers don’t steal the body and claim resurrection.

Watch the trailer below:

 [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ucUbAAMEF8M?rel=0&w=640&h=360]

Join us on Tuesday 5th April for, what promises to be, a great night of entertainment. Teas and coffees will be provided and you might just get some popcorn!